Advocacy Basics

Visit our online resources pages for much more on IMBA's advocacy programs.

Mountain bicycling has become popular around the world, and most land managers and trail-user groups have come to acknowledge the legitimacy of responsible mountain bicycling on public lands. IMBA offers many programs designed to bring bike advocates and land managers together in productive partnerships.

As acceptance of mountain biking has grown, many of the early blanket closures have been reversed, and regulations are now more site-specific and nuanced. There are currently a number of official partnerships between IMBA, IMBA-affiliated clubs, and land management agencies not only to promote mountain biking, but to use mountain bikes to promote and improve public land use.

Other countries have observed the relationships in the U.S. and adopted similar management models, or developed unique and inspiring approaches of their own. This success is due in no small part to the extraordinary work of mountain bike advocates who are passionate about their sport and committed to the civic responsibility and sweat equity to sustain it.

IMBA and the sport of mountain biking have grown, yet the management issues of safety, environmental impact, and user conflict remain the same. From our earliest days we have asked land managers for fact-based decision making, because we know that anecdote and prejudice do not serve us. We have asked for shared-use trails because we know that shared-use trails best accommodate the needs of the most users, minimize total environmental impacts, are most economical, and best build a trail community. We also know there are exceptions, and have consistently agreed that not all trails should be open to bikes. We have also asked that in some cases, trails be managed for bike-only use.

We have asked for diverse trail mileage and conditions, because we are diverse. Mountain bicycling beginners need wide, smooth trails where they can safely learn the sport. Accomplished technical riders need challenging features that test their nerves and skills. All of us savor that close-in feeling of being enveloped by nature and awed by animal sightings, wildflower blooms, and changing vistas.